Danish East Anglia AD 885-954 Silver Penny

St Edmund Memorial

Alpha / Small Cross

S960; 18mm, 1.38g

This coin comes with a rough find area provenance.

Saint Edmund’s pennies

Perhaps the most numerous of the Anglo-Viking issues struck in the Danelaw are the so-called ‘St Edmund Memorial’ pennies, copying issues of Edmund – the King of East Anglia who was martyred in 869. These coins were struck in several phases from c. 895-910 by a dizzying array of moneyers, who demonstrate not only indigenous Anglo-Saxon names but also Scandinavian and even continental ones. These attest to a thriving, internationally-reaching polity that was probably somewhat diverse.

It might seem bizarre to think that the sons and grandsons of those who had originally killed Edmund had now moved to striking coins celebrating him as ‘SC EADMUND’ (Saint Edmund) within their own territory. However, perhaps there is a relevant point here to be made concerning the extent to which Christian beliefs had been adopted and the hold which Edmund’s cult held over the local populace. Perhaps the newly-converted Danes, feeling guilty for their ancestors’ martyrdom of Edmund, were trying to make spiritual amends by venerating him on their coins?

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Danish East Anglia AD 885-954 Silver Penny

St Edmund Memorial

Alpha / Cross

NGC Slab MS62

S960; 18mm, 41.54g (Slab weight)

A high grade example.

Saint Edmund’s pennies

Perhaps the most numerous of the Anglo-Viking issues struck in the Danelaw are the so-called ‘St Edmund Memorial’ pennies, copying issues of Edmund – the King of East Anglia who was martyred in 869. These coins were struck in several phases from c. 895-910 by a dizzying array of moneyers, who demonstrate not only indigenous Anglo-Saxon names but also Scandinavian and even continental ones. These attest to a thriving, internationally-reaching polity that was probably somewhat diverse.

It might seem bizarre to think that the sons and grandsons of those who had originally killed Edmund had now moved to striking coins celebrating him as ‘SC EADMUND’ (Saint Edmund) within their own territory. However, perhaps there is a relevant point here to be made concerning the extent to which Christian beliefs had been adopted and the hold which Edmund’s cult held over the local populace. Perhaps the newly-converted Danes, feeling guilty for their ancestors’ martyrdom of Edmund, were trying to make spiritual amends by venerating him on their coins?

The post Anglo Viking Danish East Anglia AD 885-954 Silver Penny St Edmund Memorial NGC Slab MS62 appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Hiberno Norse AD 1035-1060 Silver Penny Long Cross. Phase 3

Imitating Aethelred II’s Long Cross coinage, blundered legends.

Hands in 2 angles, trefoil of pellets.

S6132; 18mm, 0.93g

Comes with previous collectors handwritten label, ex Hibernia collection.

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Hiberno Norse AD 1035-1060 Silver Penny. Phase 3

Imitating Aethelred II’s Long Cross coinage, blundered legends.

Hands in two angles.

S6132; 17mm, 0.97g

Comes with previous collectors handwritten labels, ex Hibernia collection, ex Virgil Brand collection.

View Video Here

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Hiberno Norse AD 1035-1060 Silver Penny Long Cross. Phase 3

Imitating Aethelred II’s Long Cross coinage, blundered legends.

Hand and pellets in 2 angles

S6132A; 17mm, 0.98g

Comes with previous collectors handwritten label, ex Hibernia collection.

View Video Here

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Short Cross type

Lincoln / Wulfric

S1159; 18mm, 1.11g

This coin comes with a previous handwritten collectors label.

High grade and pleasing, dark tone with iridescence.

Cnut ‘The Great’ – 1016-1035: A prominent Scandinavian prince and junior member of the Danish royal house, Cnut spent much of the early 11th century as an active participant on raids directed at England. In 1013, his father Swein Forkbeard invaded England and became its king by dint of conquest – though died shortly afterwards. Cnut was forced to retreat back to Denmark, but returned to England in 1015. Defeating the English at Assandun in 1016 and forcing a settlement, Cnut eventually succeeded to the throne of all England. An outwardly pious man, he gave generously to religious houses during his reign and went on pilgrimage to Rome – despite being a murderous bigamist. During his near twenty-year long rule, he came to unite England, Denmark, Norway and part of Sweden into the powerful but short-lived ‘North Sea Empire.’

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Long Cross type

Bare headed bust left/Voided Long Cross

Malmesbury / Leofgeat

S1151; 20mm, 1.88g

Extremely rare mint, Malmesbury coins are uncommon in any condition, especially hard to obtain in decent grade.

Comes with previous collectors printed label.

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Æthelred II ‘The Unready’ – 978-1013/1014-1016: The eldest son of Eadgar, Æthelred became king at the mere age of 12 following the brutal murder of his half-brother Edward. Young and easy to manipulate, he came to depend on his councillors for their prudent advice – an aspect in which they badly let him down. Though his reign is noted for its economic reforms and a high standard for the English coinage, it was marred by Scandinavian raids, periods of acute social instability and famine. Initially adopting a policy of paying the invaders to go away, Æthelred abruptly U-turned in 1002 and massacred many ethnic Danes resident in England. This policy backfired spectacularly, actually causing more Scandinavians to take up arms against him. Displaced from the throne in 1013 by Swein Forkbeard, he briefly returned to rule for a second time in 1014 after the latter’s untimely death – only to die himself shortly afterwards.

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Imitating Aethelred II

Long Cross type

Blundered legends

20mm, 1.54g

Æthelred II ‘The Unready’ – 978-1013/1014-1016: The eldest son of Eadgar, Æthelred became king at the mere age of 12 following the brutal murder of his half-brother Edward. Young and easy to manipulate, he came to depend on his councillors for their prudent advice – an aspect in which they badly let him down. Though his reign is noted for its economic reforms and a high standard for the English coinage, it was marred by Scandinavian raids, periods of acute social instability and famine. Initially adopting a policy of paying the invaders to go away, Æthelred abruptly U-turned in 1002 and massacred many ethnic Danes resident in England. This policy backfired spectacularly, actually causing more Scandinavians to take up arms against him. Displaced from the throne in 1013 by Swein Forkbeard, he briefly returned to rule for a second time in 1014 after the latter’s untimely death – only to die himself shortly afterwards.

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King enthroned / Cross with eagles at angles.

Lincoln mint, Moneyer THORCTEL

S1181, 19mm, 1.24g

This coin comes with previous printed labels. Graded by PCGS as MS62 (no longer in slab)

This coin is part of the Fort collection, a carefully assembled group of English Anglo-Saxon pennies collected for their historical importance and condition. Coins were sourced from reputable dealers and auction houses over some 25 years. Each one comes with the collector’s label, along with any other previous tickets and are sure to sell quickly given their overall high grade and rarity.

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Edward the Confessor (1042-1066): One of the youngest sons of Æthelred the Unready and Emma of Normandy, Edward is formally recognised as the last proper member of the House of Wessex. Forced to flee England as a youth after the invasion of Sweyn Forkbeard and Cnut – he spent many years exiled on the continent. An abortive attempt to invade and regain power in 1036 resulted in nothing, but in 1041 he was formally invited back to England to take the throne by his half-brother Harthacnut – the last Danish king of England. Crowned in 1042, Edward’s reign has long divided historians. Some argue that he was an effective ruler able to enact aggressive foreign policy and defend his borders, while others point out his over-dependency on the Godwins to keep order and maintain his position. Having no heirs of his own gave rise to rumours of voluntary celibacy, a factor which emphasised his supposed personal piety and gave rise to his epithet ‘the Confessor’ – though this caused a succession crisis. He supposedly offered the throne initially to Duke William of Normandy, but then ratified the succession of Harold Godwinson on his deathbed. He was canonised in 1161 by Pope Alexander III, his saint-cult persisting in England till the 14th century.

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Bust left holding sceptre/Trefoil Quadrilateral type. mint York, Moneyer GOLDEL

S1174, 17mm, 1.12g. High grade and good tone, most pleasing to the eye.

Comes with previous collectors label.

This coin is part of the Fort collection, a carefully assembled group of English Anglo-Saxon pennies collected for their historical importance and condition. Coins were sourced from reputable dealers and auction houses over some 25 years. Each one comes with the collector’s label, along with any other previous tickets and are sure to sell quickly given their overall high grade and rarity.

View Video Here

Edward the Confessor (1042-1066): One of the youngest sons of Æthelred the Unready and Emma of Normandy, Edward is formally recognised as the last proper member of the House of Wessex. Forced to flee England as a youth after the invasion of Sweyn Forkbeard and Cnut – he spent many years exiled on the continent. An abortive attempt to invade and regain power in 1036 resulted in nothing, but in 1041 he was formally invited back to England to take the throne by his half-brother Harthacnut – the last Danish king of England. Crowned in 1042, Edward’s reign has long divided historians. Some argue that he was an effective ruler able to enact aggressive foreign policy and defend his borders, while others point out his over-dependency on the Godwins to keep order and maintain his position. Having no heirs of his own gave rise to rumours of voluntary celibacy, a factor which emphasised his supposed personal piety and gave rise to his epithet ‘the Confessor’ – though this caused a succession crisis. He supposedly offered the throne initially to Duke William of Normandy, but then ratified the succession of Harold Godwinson on his deathbed. He was canonised in 1161 by Pope Alexander III, his saint-cult persisting in England till the 14th century.

The post Edward The Confessor AD 1042-1066 Silver Penny Trefoil Quadrilateral type York appeared first on Silbury Coins.